Catholics back education tax credit bill pending in Albany

A bill pending in Albany would give tax credits for donations to organizations that give scholarships or otherwise help with the cost of educating children.

BY MICHAEL RANDALL

A bill pending in Albany would give tax credits for donations to organizations that give scholarships or otherwise help with the cost of educating children.

The Archdiocese of New York, in announcing its latest round of school closings, made a pitch for the bill's passage. The archdiocese and other Catholic institutions around the state are lobbying for it through the New York State Catholic Conference.

The bill would help not only Catholic but other religious and nonreligious private schools. It also provides for tax credits for gifts to groups that would help public schools.

A version of the bill easily passed the Senate in the last session with overwhelming bipartisan support, but it stalled in the Assembly, where it never made it to the floor for a vote.

Nevertheless, its sponsor in that house, Assemblyman Michael Cusick, D-Staten Island, says support for the bill is growing. "The push for it really starts this year," he said.

Nearly five dozen members of the Assembly have signed on to the bill as co-sponsors or multi-sponsors.

Timothy McNiff, superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of New York, said the credits would apply to gifts to so-called 501(c)(3) not-for-profit agencies that give scholarships to students to cover tuition payments, such as the Inner City Scholarship Fund, or the Children's Scholarship Fund.

The Children's Scholarship Fund gives some of its scholarships to students in Orange, Sullivan, Ulster and other counties of the archdiocese north of New York City.

McNiff said establishing the tax credit could encourage the formation of new groups that do the same.

While public schools are supported by tax dollars, the bill also provides for tax credits for similar donations toward their programs.

James Cultrara, director for education with the New York State Catholic Conference, said the inclusion of an equal tax credit for giving to public schools sets New York's proposed law apart from similar bills already adopted in 11 other states, including Pennsylvania.